May I again remind people that we
try to start the Monday session at 2.00 p.m.sharp.
This means that people should be sitting at the table opposite their partner
before 2.00 p.m. My general policy is that I will always try to obtain suitable
partners for people without one. This is extremely difficult if people arrive
at 2.00 p.m. exactly and without a partner. So, in future, I will only
‘guarantee’ a partner for people if they arrive well beforehand (say at least
10 mins). Now I wrote the last paragraph before I was
made aware of the exact circumstances last Monday. Everything above is still
absolutely valid, but I do apologise to Pierre in that I
was unaware that he had arrived very early, dealt some boards, and then left
(to appear just before 2.00
p.m.). It was very unfortunate, but I was
unaware that he was available (I, myself arrive at about 12.45 and am always
very busy setting everything up and may not notice everybody around).
Basically, I again apologise to Pierre, but it really does make life much easier for me if everybody is
seated (opposite their partner) by 1.50 p.m.

Welcome Back
Chuck

I’m sure that everybody
was pleased to see the return of Chuck. The club is not the same without him.
He was kind enough to read all of the news sheets and give comments. Basically
he agreed with just about everything I said but queried my ‘persistent’ knocking of America(ns). I agree. It really is
uncalled for. After all, Elvis was American and they also invented 2/1 and the
forcing NT. So no more US
bashing (for a while).

Basically,
there are very few nations which I have any tolerance for. I gave up French
wine and brandy when they decided to blow up a Pacific island as a ‘nuclear
test’ a few years ago. As far as I am concerned, anybody is free to have a go
at the Brits and Tony’s ‘sucking up’ to mr bush – it won’t bother me at all. And if these guys do
start a war, then Thailand is where I want to
be.

Too Subtle?

Now I thought that I had been fairly clear in the last few news sheets,
but it appears not. A phrase like ‘a loud mouthed Norwegian’ is ambiguous?? So,
I will clarify the situation and mention names from now on (please don’t sue me
– it’s not worth while). First, let’s cover the ‘on notice’ people from news
sheet 2. Let’s be explicit about the Belgian, American and Australian. Now it
appears that I was not too subtle here; and Geoff, Chuck and Ian all got the
message. Geoff usually appears (just about) on time, has a nice new shirt and
has learnt not to criticize Chuck or other players. Chuck is well mannered and
relatively quiet (for an American) – sorry, scrub that last bit. He has even
been known to be very polite to less experienced opponents, realizing that this
is not a stratified event; and he has not walked out again. Ian has not called
anybody else a rude pig (Tholief has gone now) and no
longer tries to sneak in a fag behind by back at the Amari.
I now consider these three to be back to ‘normal’ status (but keep it up and
don’t push it, guys). Did I really mean to say that?

Thorlief!

Now I did not elaborate in News sheet 5 as to
why Thorlief was banned – I thought it was obvious;
and the least said the better. It appears, however, that I need to justify it.
Apparently Alex thought it harsh (John had provoked Thorlief)
and Thorlief did not realize that he was ‘on
notice’?? I shall just summarize a few items from news-sheets 2-4:

‘Cards (and bidding cards) should be placed on the table
and not slapped down in an apparent show of anger. This is cheating (when
showing displeasure at some action of partner’s). If two opponents had
asked you not to do this the previous week, then I can only assume that the
offender is stupid or wants to cause problems. If his English is not up to
reading this note then perhaps Alex will translate.’

‘One such
individual has been involved in a loud argument three weeks running
(with 3 different opponents!)’ – Thorlief had loud
arguments with John, Chuck and Ian three weeks in succession. The very next
week he even managed to get Bill to raise his voice.

‘I can psyche as often and whenever I like’ – sorry Thorlief, not repeatedly at our club.

‘ – do these people realise that they are within 5mm of being thrown
out? I really don’t care who is to blame. This is the LAST
warning. I will not risk the club’s standing because of one loud mouthed
Norwegian. It is simply more than pathetic.’

So what happened? The very next Monday, Thorlief got involved in a punch-up at the Monday club!
Nothing like going out in style!Did he
not have enough warnings? I think that I have to re-phrase what I said in
news-sheet 2. If he did not realise that all of the above referred to him, then
he is stupid and wants to cause
problems. He should be aware that threatening somebody’s life is a criminal
offence in Thailand; and in front of numerous witnesses, could easily
result in a jail sentence! Actually punching somebody in a Bridge club is way
over the top. Needless to say, I feel that I was perhaps a bit too lenient
earlier, but he is now certainly banned from the club.

Just to repeat a line from the news sheet issued on the
day that he was requested to leave: –

‘I really don’t care who is to blame -This is the LAST
warning.’ The bold capitals and underline were in the original. Most normal
people would not take this to be a mild reprimand.

Incidentally, I believe that one other
prominent club member (Martin) had approached Alex and cautioned him about his
partner’s behaviour.

Now I fully realise that John may well
have provoked Thorlief in the last ‘incident’, but I
think that I had made it fairly plain that I just needed the slightest excuse
to throw him (Thorlief) out. John presumably realised
this and simply expedited the inevitable. As far as I am concerned, this is the
end of the matter. I shall make it clear and totally unambiguous: - Thorlief is not welcome at either the Monday or Friday club
ever again.

Virtually every member present congratulated
me on the outcome and my swift reaction. I do not believe in parole and light
sentences. If the prisons become overcrowded,– then hang ‘em
all!

Just a friendly word to Alex: - Thorlief is a lost cause. You will not make many friends at
the Bridge club by continuing to defend him or by suggesting that others have
behaved anywhere near so badly. He has upset just about everybody at the club
and been involved in every argument that I can remember. People must learn to
be accountable for their own actions.

So, how about a little Bridge? ….Just room for a quickie.

Transfers over 1 NoTrump

Most people play transfers these days, so it is worthwhile mastering
them. Let’s say you have Hand A and partner opens 1NT (strong 15-17). You
transfer with 2♥ and partner obediently bids 2♠.

What now? You clearly want to be in game but a 4♠ bid is
incorrect. Bid 3NT and

give partner the choice (he knows that you have 5 ª’s).

Hand A Hand
B How
do you bid Hand B? This is similar to a hand from last